Fundamental and derived

positions
MADE BY SAJIDA MAZHER
 INTRODUCTION
Sherrington stated that posture follows

movement like a shadow. Every movement
begins in posture and end in posture.
The posture from which movement is

initiated is know as Starting position
and they may be active or passive in
character. There are generally five
fundamental positions and all other are
derived from them. They are:
 Positions
1. Standing

2. Kneeling
3. Sitting
4. Lying
5. Hanging

For all these positions

External torque =internal torque ???
For all these
fundamental positions,
steadiness or balance is
maintain by
balance of forces acting
on the body and the
muscular forces that are
used up in
Isometric form.

For all other derived

positions, voluntary
efforts of muscle be
required.
 Standing position
This is the most difficult of
Fundamental position to maintain.
 as the whole Body must be balanced
and stabilized in correct alignment on a
small base
By the co-ordination of many muscle
groups.
Coordinated muscles work means
what ??
 standing

Heels are together and on the same line, the toes

slightly apart does not exceed 45 degree
Knees are together and straight.
 Standing
Hips are extended and laterally rotated slightly.
Pelvis is balance on femoral head.
Spine is stretched to its maximum length.
Vertex thrust upwards, ears are level and the eye
look straight forward.
Shoulders are down and back.
Arms hang loosely to the sides, palm facing inward
toward the body.
Muscle work maintain position
Muscle work reduces in good alignment
Increases by faulty alignment
Or by external force which disturb balance
Antigravity muscles works isometric ally how can
one prove ??
 MUSCLE WORK

1.Intrinsic Muscle of feet to stabilize the feet

and to prevent the curling of the toes to ground
2. Planter flexors of the ankle, working to
balance the lower leg on the foot.
3. Dorsi flexors of the Ankle, working to
counter balance the action of the planter flexor
Evertors works to counter balance invertors
Peroneus press ball of great toe on ground
Tension in one
result slackening of
other

If pole perfectly

balanced tension in
all three minimal
4. Extensors of the knee may work slightly.
5. Extensor of the Hip, working to maintain hip
extension and
to balance the pelvis On the femoral heads
6. Extensor of spine, working to keep the trunk
upright it increase curvature in cervical and lumber
region
Flexors counter balance them
7. Flexor of the lumber spine, working to prevent
over action of the extensor of this region
 Maintain correct pelvic tilt
 Support viscera
8. Pre-vertebral neck muscles, working to control
excessive extension of neck and to straighten the
cervical spine.
9. Flexors and Extensors of the Atlanto-occipital
Joint working reciprocally to balance the head.
Elevators of mendible close the mouth
10. Retractors of the Scapulae, working to draw the
Scapula backwards so glenoid cavity face laterally
11. Arms are relaxed Some time lateral rotators of
the shoulder
Al muscles in anterio posterior direction
Lateral muscle maintain equilibrium
Perfect balance required less muscle work
It vary with anatomical structure of individual
 Effects and Uses
Base of support is small and center of gravity is
high.
Body is maintained by co ordinate work of many
muscles.
Body is relatively less stable than other
fundamental position.
Muscle work is minimum when perfect balance is
maintained.
Thorax is free and abdominal viscera are well
supported.
What is going on??

If on ankle or
knee or foot???
 What is this….??
Instability…..why and where
KNEELING POSITION

Body is supported on the knees

that are slightly apart or
together

and the rest of the body is held

in standing.

The arms are by the sides of the

body and the legs provide the
base.
 MUSCLE WORK
1. There is inter play between the flexors
and the Extensor of the knee, to
balance the femora vertically on the knees.
 the muscles of the knee joint, especially
Quadriceps Femoris, must take rather a
greater share in balancing the body.
2. Extensor of the hip and the flexors of
the lumbar spine work more strongly
to maintain the correct angle of pelvic tilt.
3. Muscle work of the rest of the body is
same as that of standing
Effects and Uses
The center of gravity is high but lower when compare
to that of standing
and the line of gravity is close to the edge of base,
however, uncomfortable
for most of the people.
The pelvis is fixed, because the origin and insertion
of Rectus Femoris are further apart, so that the
muscle is more on the stretch.
This is used as starting position for back movement,
and to train control of
hip joint and lower trunk in preparation for
standing.
The body is supported on the knees which may be
together or slightly apart.
1- The lower leg rests on the floor with the feet
planter flexed.
2- The feet may be in the mid position over the
edge of the plinth.
Effect: uncomfortable position for
most people due to difficult balance.

Because the muscles of the feet and

leg do not take any share in
maintaining the position, the effect
of a movement done in this position
will be more definite and purer than
if done in standing position

Uses: as starting position for

backward movements
SITTING

the position is taken on

chair or stool.
1- It is preferable to
leave 2 or 3 inches of
space between the back
of your knees and the
edge of the seat.
 - SITTING
2- The height and width of seat must
allow the thighs to be fully
supported.
3- The hips and knees are flexed to
right angle.
4- The knees are apart and feet rest
on the floor.
5- Your weight should be evenly
distributed on both buttocks chiefly
on the tuberosities of the ischium.
MUSCLE WORK
1. There need be no muscle work to
hold the position of the legs, as they
are
fully supported.
2. The flexors of the hips work to
maintain a right angle at these joints
and to prevent the tendency to slump
The working muscles for maintaining
the position are principally the neck,
back, and posterior shoulder muscles.
Effects And Uses
comfortable, natural, and very stable position. for many non-weight
bearing knee and foot exercises.

1. General steadiness in this position is considerably greater than in the

previous positions, because : -
(a) The base is larger;
(b) The centre of gravity lies nearer the base;
(c) Gliding in hip, knee, and ankle joints has no disturbing influence.

2. The pelvis is also firmer, because it rests on the supporting surface.

3. The leg muscles work little, if at all, to maintain the position, so that
movements are purer. For all these reasons the sitting fundamental
position and its derived positions are much used in medical gymnastics
 Lying

Lying Fundamental Position

Lying Fundamental Position - The body lies
stretched out upon a horizontal surface, arms to the
sides, muscles relaxed.
There is actually no real muscle work necessary for
maintaining this position. It is steady and does not
disturb the effects of movements and massage.
Is Used
(a) For weak patients.
(b) For small children, because they often do not
understand how to maintain other starting positions.
(c) Frequently for massage.
 LYING

Position
Body is supine with the arms by the sides and the legs
are straight
Body is completely supported. Low center of gravity
and highest stable

MUSCLE WORK
1.As the whole body is completely relaxed on the floor there is very
less muscle work.
2. If the body is relaxed on a hard surface, such as floor the
head rolls to one side, the lumber spine is hollowed bcause of
the tension of structures lying anterior to the hip joint and the
latter fall into a position of lateral rotation
 3. Head rotators of both sides work reciprocally to stabilize the
position of the head.
 4. Extensor of hips and flexor of lumbar spine work to combat
the tendency to hollow the back.
 5. Medial rotators of hips work to keep the leg in neutral
position.
 Effects and Uses

It is an easy position and as the trunk is relaxed and

fixed by its own weight
Suitable position for many exercises
Spine is relieved from the burden of transmitting
weight of head and shoulders
The position is unsuitable for those suffering from
respiratory and cardiac conditions
Unsuitable for elderly because it hinders return of
blood from head
 HANGING

Position
Body is suspended by grasping over a
horizontal bar
Arms are straights and Shoulders are
wide apart
Head held high and the scapulae are
drawn down
Trunk and legs hang straight
Heels together and ankles are planter
flexed.
 MUSCLE WORK in hanging
1. The flexor of the fingers work strongly to grasp the bar
2. All the muscles round the wrist work strongly to
reduce the strain on the joints
3. The flexors of the Elbows work to reduce the strain on
the joints.
4. The Adductors of the shoulder work strongly to lift the
body on the arms
5. The Depressors, Retractors and Medial Rotators of the
scapulae work strongly to fix the scapulae
6. The Pre-vertebral and posterior Neck Muscles Work
reciprocally to maintain the position of neck and head
7. The Flexor of the Lumbar Spine and the Extensors of
the hips work to correct the tendency to arch
8. The adductors of the Hips work to keep the legs
together.
9. The Planterflexors work to point the toes to the floor.
Effects and Uses
Only suitable for whom muscular strength
and body weight is well balanced.
The weights of the shoulder is taken of by
Spine
Weight of legs exerts traction up on the
body
During hanging, if the chest is fixed in
inspiration it may cause difficulty in
breathing.